Blog
Media Statement
8th September 2023
Today the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, warns of a deep divide between ‘Government’ and ‘Civil Society’ narratives on toxics which is fuelling anger and distrust.
Following a 10-day visit to Australia where Dr. Marcos A. Orellana, took submissions from a range of Australian legal experts, civil society organisations, Traditional Owners and Elders, academics and scientists and visited impacted communities, he has released a statement to foreshadow his report to the United Nations about his investigations in Australia.
Jane Bremmer Alliance for a Clean Environment, states, “The Special Rapporteur’s statement following his visit to Australia, can only be regarded as a powerful vindication for Australia’s First Nations Traditional Owners and the many environmental justice communities that continue to carry the burden of toxic industrial, petrochemical, mining and AGVET pollution. Our government can no longer ignore their plight and must address the systemic failures highlighted by Dr Marcos Orellana.”
The United Nations advises that, “In his end-of-mission statement, Orellana examines how toxic releases from coal mines and coal-fired power plants, uranium mines, and the spraying of highly hazardous pesticides are imposing heavy burdens on communities. Proposed petrochemical, offshore oil and gas, hydraulic fracking, and waste incineration projects pose serious health, water, agricultural and climate concerns.”
Jane Bremmer warns, “Australia is at a critical moment where the old colonialist, business as usual systems, and approach to industry, pesticides, fossil fuels and petrochemical regulation, is crumbling. The veil on corporate industrial capture in Australia is lifting and our communities, Indigenous leaders, environmental defenders, and a range of civil society experts, are demanding change. The time is now.”
As Dr Orellana states, “The ongoing parliamentary inquiry on an Australian human rights act illustrates how Australia is living an important moment in its journey towards strengthening human rights protections, including the incorporation of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment in the Australian legal order.”
